Puller device for generally cylindrical stem assemblies or valves

ABSTRACT

A puller device for longitudinally extracting generally cylindrical valve assemblies and the like and which have a slightly protruding outer end provided with a circumferential indentation. The improved device combines the use of an elongated puller shaft having means at the inner end for grasping and interlocking with said circumferential indentation, together with an annular abutment member surrounding the inner portion of the stem and having an end for abutment against the mounting of said cylindrical assembly, and a second cooperating puller nut also surrounding said stem and disposed outwardly of the first annular member and having extended threaded interconnection therewith. The combination further requires a shiftable lock device carried by the annular puller member for selective engagement with two diminished collars or grooves provided intermediately of the elongated stem. The outer annular puller element is screw threaded inwardly against the abutment member then interlocked with one of the collars of said stem and, in operation, is screwed outwardly with powerful force to pull the stem outwardly through the first abutment member.

Uited States Patent Walter A. Fillion 705 2nd St. N.E., Minneapolis,Minn. 55413 [21] Appl. No. 851,223

[22] Filed Aug. 19, 1969 [45] Patented May 25, 1971 [72] Inventor [54]PULLER DEVICE FOR GENERALLY CYLINDRICAL STEM ASSEMBLIES OR VALVESPrimary Examiner-Andrew R. Juhasz Assistant ExaminerLeon GildenAtt0rney-Williamson, Palmatier and Bains ABSTRACT: A puller device forlongitudinally extracting generally cylindrical valve assemblies and thelike and which have a slightly protruding outer end provided with acircumferential indentation. The improved device combines the use of anelongated puller shaft having means at the inner end for grasping andinterlocking with said circumferential indentation, together with anannular abutment member surrounding the inner portion of the stem andhaving an end for abutment against the mounting of said cylindricalassembly, and a second cooperating puller nut also surrounding said stemand disposed outwardly of the first annular member and having extendedthreaded interconnection therewith. The combination further requires ashiftable lock device carried by the annular puller member for selectiveengagement with two diminished collars or grooves providedintermediately of the elongated stem. The outer annular puller elementis screw threaded inwardly against the abutment member then interlockedwith one of the collars of said stem and, in operation, is screwedoutwardly with powerful force to pull the stem outwardly through thefirst abutment member.

FULLER DEVICE FOR GENERALLY CYLINDRICAL STEM ASSEMBLIES OR VALVESinstrumentality and usually having a circumferential groove or otherindentation adjacent the extremity to receive a puller element.

It is an object of my invention to utilize a powerful screw or wedgeaction, preferably applicable in two or more stages, and.

employing, in addition to an elongated axial stem with means at itsinner end for interlocking with the indentation, a pair of annularcollars mounted on the stem and having extended screw-threaded relationwhereby the inner collar acts as an abutment to engage the mountingsurrounding the stem assembly to be pulled, and the second annularmember con stitutes a puller nut which, in retracted position relativeto the first collar, may be interlocked with at least one indentedcollar on the stem and thereafter screwed outwardly by hand or byapplication of a wrench to forcibly pull the stem outwardly and thusretract the stern assembly or valve.

A further object of my invention is the provision of an extremelysimple, compact device of the class described which may quickly, throughmanual operation, apply great outward force to pull the stem assembly orvalve and which may be operated in at least two stages to obtain asubstantial pulling force throughout a considerable length.

Further objects of the invention are the provision of rugged and durablecooperating elements which are essentially mounted upon one elongatedaxial stem and which cooperatively apply through application of torqueto a screw force outward pulling of the stem with interlocking of theouter puller annulus with one or more collars indented and carried bythe said stem.

The foregoing and other objects will be more apparent from the followingdescription made in connection with the accompanying drawings whereinsimilar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout theseveral views, and in which:

FlG. l is an exploded side elevation showing a typical stem assembly orvalve used in hot water radiators and showing the several components ofmy structure in spaced apart and exploded relation;

FIG. 2 is a similar side elevation with the several components of mydevice being interrelated for operation in pulling the stem assembly;and

FIG. 3 is a rear elevation showing a shiftable lock plate connected withthe rear'face of the outer annular puller nut, the dotted lines showingreleased position of the plate.

Referring now in detail to the preferred structure of my device, agenerally cylindrical stem assembly or valve, indicated as an entiretyby the letter V, is shown mounted within a rigid chambered mounting Mand having, as is conventional in such as assembly, a reduced axial endE which is provided at its extremity with a diametrical slot 6 forengagement with a screwdriver or other turning element and alsoprovided, as is customary, with an indentation preferably in the form ofan annular groove G, which is spaced a short distance inwardly from theextremity of the member E.

My puller device utilizes an elongate puller shaft 7 which is preferablythreaded throughout the greater portion of its length and from itsoutward extremity for some distance inwardly, said stem 7 carrying atits inner end a suitable means for grasping and interlocking with theouter extremity of the assembly or valve. As shown, said means comprisesa pair of cooperating swingable claws 8 integrally formed of a U- shapedspring metal piece having an intermediate anchoring portion 8a which isapertured for axially receiving the elongate shaft or screw-7. Screw 7is provided with an integral head 7a at its inner end against whichattachment portion 8a is abutted. Aclamping nut 9 threaded upon shaft 7secures the U-shaped spring which provides claws 8. Claws 8 areswingable inwardly into substantially parallel relation, and haveterminal hook elements 8b interfitting the annular groove or in.-dentation G near the extremity of the valve structure. After said clawsare engaged with the groove G, a metal slide collar 10 is movedlongitudinally over the claws to securely retain the same in interlockedrelation with the groove G.

As shown, a pair of spaced locking collars 11 and 12 are provided in theouter portion of the elongated puller shaft 7 formed, as shown, by metalsleeves which loosely fit the puller shaft 7, said sleeves beingpredeterminately positioned by a plurality of nuts 13 which threadedlyengage the outer portion of the threaded shaft 7. The purpose of saidlock collars l1 and 12 will be more in detail explained later in thisspecificatron.

A relatively large annular abutment collar 15 having an intemal diameterfor very loosely surrounding the nut 13, and of course stem 7, isprovided having, as shown, an enlarged forward section 15a with spacedfeet 15b for concentric engagement and abutment against the mounting Mdirectly surrounding the stem assembly or valve. The reduced outerportion 15c of the abutment collar is externally screw threadedthroughout a substantial distance in length for threaded engagement withthe internal threads. of an annular puller nut element 16, the externalthreads of member 16 being shown in FIG. 2. The outer end of member 16is flared and enlarged at to provide a substantial. planar rear surface16b upon which is shiftably mounted a lock plate 17 (shown in detail inFIG. 3). Lock plate 17 is generally of disc-shape having a J-shapedslot17a for accommodation of a headed pin 18 carried near one marginal edgeof the planar surface 16b. The lock plate 17 has a relatively wideradial slot 17b of a width to surround and engage either of the collarsl1 and 12 provided in spaced relation near the outer portion of theelongated puller shaft 7.

As shown in dotted lines in FIG. 3, lock plate 17 may be simultaneouslyswung and shifted in the slot-17a from the full line locking positionwith the collar to the retracted position in which the plate is disposedsubstantially outwardly of the planar surface 16b at the outer end ofthe annular puller nut 16.

The annular puller nut 16 preferably rigidly carries a polygonal-shapedwrench-engaging nut 16c to facilitate application of torque with greatforce through use of a tool, such as a wrench.

It will be understood that the annular abutment collar 15 and enlargedpuller nut 16 are freely slidable over the nuts 13 which adjustablyretain the lock collars in place. on shaft 7, and also the abutment nut15 is freely slidable at its enlarged portion 15a over the gripper claws8 and the retaining collar 10 to completely assemble the device foroperation in the position shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings. Nutted bolt18 pivotally secures plate 17.

In operation, the elongated threaded shaft 7 is axially disposed of theprotruding terminal E of the stem assembly or valve and the cooperatingclaws 8 are swung forwardly with the hook or claw ends 8b engaged withthe annular groove or indentation G of the stem or valve. The slidecollar 10 is then applied and slid to an intermediate position topositively retain the claws.

Thereafter the annular abutment collar 15 is slid inwardly upon thethreaded shaft 7 to cause the abutment feet 15b thereof to engage in acircle concentrically surrounding the assembly to be pulled and bearingagainst the rigid mounting M.

The lock collars 11 and 12 may be previously or then adjusted by screwthreading of the several cooperating retaining nuts 13 on the threadedshaft 7 to position the outermost collar 12 for engagement with the lockplate 17 when the annular puller nut 16 is screw-threaded'inwardly inits most compact longitudinal relation with the abutment collar 15. Thepuller nut 16 is thereafter screw threaded into its retracted positionradius slot 17b with the outermost collar. It will be understood thatthe innermost collar 11 will be disposed predeterminately some distanceinwardly from the outermost collar for a secon stage pulling of theassembly or valve stem.

Thereafter, torque is applied to the annular puller nut 16, usuallyrequiring only turning force of the fingers of the operator, but if agreater torque is needed a wrench may be applied to the integral nutportion 16c of the puller nut. Nut 16 is turned in counterclockwisedirection, as illustrated in the drawings, to longitudinally move itselfoutwardly from the abutment nut 15 thereby, through lock action of theplate 17, exerting a very powerful longitudinal outward thrust on thestern assembly or valve.

If a second stage of pulling is needed to completely extract the stemassembly of valve from its seat, the lock plate 17 may be shiftedoutwardly to disconnect with the outermost collar 12. Puller nut 15 maythen be threadedly retracted upon the externally threaded portion 150 ofthe abutment nut until lock plate 17 is in position to engage theinnermost or secondary collar 11. Upon locking engagement with collar11, the procedure is repeated with the puller nut 16 being counterclockwise turned to completely extract the assembly or valve from itsseat.

It will be understood that while only two stages of pulling are providedfor in the embodiment illustrated through the spaced collars 11 and 12,a succession of several collars may be employed for greater longitudinaldisplacement if this is required.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that l have provided avery simple but highly efficient and powerful puller device forlongitudinally retracting generally cylindrical elements, such as steinassemblies, valves and the like, which are normally deeply seated in agenerally cylindrical socket of a mounting member such as a radiator.

The parts of my device may be very compactly collapsed upon the elongatethreaded pull shaft 7 and may be compactly housed in a very smallcontainer, which may include one or more wrenches if desired.

lclaim:

l. A puller device for longitudinally extracting generally cylindricalvalve assemblies and the like of the type having an extremity projectingfrom a rigid mounting, said extremity being provided with acircumferential indentation,

said puller device having an elongated puller shaft adapted to bepositioned axially of said assembly,

means at the inner end of said shaft for grasping and interlocking withsaid projecting end of said assembly, an annular abutment membersurrounding the inner portion of said shaft and said grasping means andhaving an inner end for abutment against the mounting adjacent saidprojecting portion,

an annular puller nut also surrounding said shaft and disposed outwardlyof said annular abutment and having extended threaded interconnectionwith said abutment member, said shaft having at its outward portion anannular lock-receiving shoulder, and

said puller nut having a shiftable lock plate slotted for locking andinterengaging with said shoulder.

2. The structure set forth in claim 1 wherein said puller shaft carriesa plurality of individually adjustable annular lockreceiving shouldersspaced inwardly at predetermined distances from the outer extremity ofsaid shaft, and

said lock plate being successively engageable with first the outermostand then the next innermost of said shoulders for multistage pullingaction.

3. The structure set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for graspingand interlocking with the projecting end of said assembly constitutes apair of opposed gripping claws having hooked ends for oppositelyengaging the circumferential indentation of said assembly extremity, and

a slidable slip collar for surrounding said claws in retracted positionto retain the same in interlocking engagement with the projectin end ofsaid assembly. I 4. The structure se forth in claim 1 wherein saidannular abutment member is concentrically applied over the inner endportion of said puller shaft and said gripping means and has anexternally threaded outer end threadedly engageable with an internallythreaded inner end of said puller nut.

5. The structure set forth in claim 1 wherein at least the outer portionof said puller shaft is externally threaded for predetermined adjustmentof internally threaded nuts to position and limit at least a pair ofsaid annular lock-receiving shoulders.

1. A puller device for longitudinally extracting generally cylindricalvalve assemblies and the like of the type having an extremity projectingfrom a rigid mounting, said extremity being provided with acircumferential indentation, said puller device having an elongatedpuller shaft adapted to be positioned axially of said assembly, means atthe inner end of said shaft for grasping and interlocking with saidprojecting end of said assembly, an annular abutment member surroundingthe inner portion of said shaft and said grasping means and having aninner end for abutment against the mounting adjacent said projectingportion, an annular puller nut also surrounding said shaft and disposedoutwardly of said annular abutment and having extended threadedinterconnection with said abutment member, said shaft having at itsoutward portion an annular lock-receiving shoulder, and said puller nuthaving a shiftable lock plate slotted for locking and interengaging withsaid shoulder.
 2. The structure set forth in claim 1 wherein said pullershaft carries a plurality of individually adjustable annularlock-receiving shoulders spaced inwardly at predetermined distances fromthe outer extremity of said shaft, and said lock plate beingsuccessively engageable with first the outermost and then the nextinnermost of said shoulders for multistage pulling action.
 3. Thestructure set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for grasping andinterlocking with the projecting end of said assembly constitutes a pairof opposed gripping claws having hooked ends for oppositely engaging thecircumferential indentation of said assembly extremity, and a slidableslip collar for surrounding said claws in retracted position to retainthe same in interlocking engagement with the projecting end of saidassembly.
 4. The structure set forth in claim 1 wherein said annularabutment member is concentrically applied over the inner end portion ofsaid puller shaft and said gripping means and has an externally threadedouter end threadedly engageable with an internally threaded inner end ofsaid puller nut.
 5. The structure set forth in claim 1 wherein at leastthe outer portion of said puller shaft is externally threaded forpredetermined adjustment of internally threaded nuts to position andlimit at least a pair of said annular lock-receiving shoulders.